ear, as brought him to the ground. Berks not being quite sober, nor Belcher altogether well, their friends agreed they should meet next day in Oxendon-street, Leicester fields, which they accordingly did, and after some negociations respecting the order of proceeding, they each went into seperate hackney-coaches, acconipanied by their friends: viz.

Belcher-Joe Ward, Second; Gibbons, Bottle-holder. Berks-Owen, (the Oilmau,) Second; Yokel, (a Jew,) Bottle-holder.

An immense crowd followed to a field, the scene of action; viz the first open space through Tyburn Turnpike, on the Uxbridge road, behind St George's Chapel, or St. George's Row, which faces Hyde Park. The parties arrived there about one o'clock, and there being no time to erect a stage, a most extensive ring was formed; the persons in the inner circle almost laying down, the second circle sitting, the third circle on their knees, and outside of them the others standing, till those on the very outside, who could not measure five feet ten, were glad of an occasional peep, by jumping up, aided by leaning on others' shoulders.

The notice was so short that the gentlemen amateurs were not very numerous, though we could distinguish about a dozen; among whom were, Mr. Fletcher Read, Mr Crook, &c. Mr. Fletcher Read is Belcher's particular frieud, and backed him deeply on the first fight that should take place between Belcher and Berks, which was to have been fought in Yorkshire. When stripped and ready, Berks came up to Mr. Fletcher Read, and asked "Whether it should be a fair standup fight?" Certainly," " said Mr. Read," in any way whatever." Mr. F. Read then called up Belcher, and acquainted him with what Berks had asked. Belcher said also," Certainly, he could do no otherwise." Berks then requested that the pauses between each round, might be three quarters of a minute. To this Belcher's friends objected, and insisted upon the regularly established time of half a minute.

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After walking in the ring about three minutes, the combatants stripped, and having gone through the usual

ceremony of crossing and shaking hands, they set to soon after one o'clock.

First Round-Berks ran in upon Belcher. It was evidently his hope to gain the battle by superior strength. Berks closed upon Belcher, and tried to throw him, but Belcher threw Berks. Some blows were struck, but no blood drawn.

Second Round-Berks ran in upon Belcher, hoping to crush him by superior strength. Belcher put in a smart blow on his adversary's throat, and drew the first blood. They closed, and Belcher again threw Berks.

Third Round-Berks again ran in upon Belcher with great spirit, and in doing so, planted a sharp blow on the right cheek bone, with his left hand; he next put in a very severe blow between the left breast and the shoulder, which, if it had been placed lower, might, from its force, have been most important. He was aiming another blow with his left hand when Belcher rallied, struck a severe blow, closed, and brought Berks to the ground.

Fourth Round-Berks rushed upon Belcher, missed his blow, and fell upon his knee. Some persons groaned, called out Berks was at his old tricks, and supposed him shifting, as he fell without a blow; which if done intentionally, we believe would have been contrary to the conditions of the fight; but Berk's previous and subsequent conduct showed that such a charge was unfounded, as he fought really with a steady spirit, and seemed to do his best.

Fifth Round-Berks ran in with great force, caught Belcher by the hams, doubled him up, and threw him in the style of a cross buttock: Belcher pitched on his head with such force, it was feared his neck was broken; a cry of Foul! foul!" ran round: but Belcher rose as sprightly as ever, said he was not hurt, and in answer to the cries of foul! said, "No, never mind."

Sixth Round-This and the tenth round were the most severe and decisive: Berks rushed in as usual. Sharp blows were struck on both sides.-Belcher put in a severe blow on the side of Berk's head, anot her on the

side of the neck, a third on the throat, very severe : they closed, struggled, changed legs, each displayed his utmost skill and strength in wrestling; at last they both fell together alongside of each other, neither being uppermost, or able to claim, or really possessing the advan tage in the fall.

Seventh Round.-Berks was less gay, less eager. His strength manifestly began to fail him; but he did not show less spirit when put to the test. They closed, and Belcher threw Berks.

Eighth Round-Berks began to stand on the defensive. At that he had no chance. Belcher struck some sharp blows, and this round ended the same as the for

mer.

Ninth Round.-Bets, which were offering for the first five rounds of ten to five, and afterwards of five to one upon Belcher, were now offering of twenty to one in his favour. Belcher did not seem exhausted: he in this, and every other round, while the parties were squaring, continued nodding and talking to Berks, striking at the same time, the most sudden, unexpected, and severe blows. This round ended like the former.

Tenth Round-This was the most severe and decisive. Berks set to with spirit, and came up the first to close quarters; Belcher struck very sharp; cut Berks under the left eye; then under the right : next planted a blow between the throat and the chin, so severe, that it lifted Berks off his feet, and his head was the first part of him that came to the ground. Belcher seemed to fall after this blow; they both lay on the ground together; the blood gushed up Berk's throat; collected fully in his mouth, he spirted it over Belcher, who was laying by him. Belcher did not relish it, and swore that he would pay him for it the next round. Berks said he did not do it designedly.

Eleventh Round-It was evident Berks was beaten. His face was one mass of blood. Still he showed fight; some blows were exchanged, when they closed, and Belcher threw Berks; but Belcher fell on his hands, manifestly not wishing to hurt Berks more, as he might have

fallen upon him with all his weight, and given him a se vere bruise thereby, as is customary, and deemed fair in fighting.

Twelfth Round.-Berks showed symptoms of weakness, sitting on the ground, and having more assistance from his second than before. The result was the same as on the former round.

Thirteenth Round-Berks still came up. Belcher struck him five or six severe blows, and closed and threw him. Berks was heard to express a wish to give in; but his second, wishing him to persevere, put a handkerchief in his mouth to stifle his utterance.

Fourteenth Round.-Much the same. Berks showed spirit; but his strength was gone, and he could only stand up to be beaten. It was evident he had no chance of success, either now or any other time during the battle-After some sharp blows, Beicher closed, and again threw Berks upon his chest, where he lay about three seconds, and then gave in. He was twice or thrice distinctly asked by Belcher's second if he gave in, and he as distinctly answered yes.-Indeed the poor man could scarcely see or stand, being much beaten about the body, and cut in the face so dreadfully, that it was almost impossible to distinguish a feature. He was put in a coach, and conveyed to a house in the neighbourhood of Grosvenor-square, and heard to groan very much on the way; and indeed if he had not survived so many severe beatings, we should fear that this would be his last. Belcher, on the contrary, did not appear to have a single mark in his face, or upon his body, except a bruise on the left cheek bone, and another on the breast towards the shoulder. Immediately upon his being declared victor, he leaped up three times near three feet from the ground, to show that he had not suffered from the fight. After walking three times round the field he left the grouud on foot, his particular friends accompanying him until they reached the road, where they took a coach to avoid the crowd. With respect to the amount of the bets, a great deal of money was offered up on the ground; but public opinion was so decidedly in

favour of Belcher, few were tempted, by any odds, to back Berks.-A great deal of money, however, was depending, as the fight is considered decisive of all the bets made in Yorkshire, at the time the parties were to have fought there.

The style of fighting was much the same, as in the first fight between the parties; Berks, conceiving himself the strongest man, endeavoured to avail himself of superiority, by running in upon his adversary. Belch er, on the other hand, though he showed no inferiority, when opposed body to body in close contest with his antagonist, never closed but when he could not avoid it, and preferred that distance at which he could best avail himself of his science and peculiar powers. These consist principally in a most extraordinary quickness.

Mr. Read, and some other amateurs, subscribed thirty guineas for the winner, and five guineas for the loser of the battle.

Notwithstanding Belcher's advantage, he confessed, after the fight, he never had such an ugly customer as Berks in his life.

Siqua est habitior paulo, pugilum esse aiunt. The exercise of wrestling, wherein the combatants endeavoured to throw each other down, was another practice of the ancients. They never encountered till all their joints and members had been soundly rubbed, fomented, and supled with oil, whereby all strains were prevented. The victory was adjudged to him who gave his antagonist three falls.

Another method of wrestling among the Greeks was as follows: the combatants used voluntarily to throw themselves down, and continue to fight upon the ground, pinching,